NOTES FOR VISITORS: Welcome to the Alaska Outdoors Supersite forums! The contents of our forums are viewable by anyone, and may be read by clicking the forum headings below. To post in the forums, you must register at THIS LINK. To upgrade or change your membership, please login and select Upgrade > Supporting Membership. Your account will now be managed separately from the forum system. Forum login is separate from account management but shares the same username and password.

IMPORTANT: If you cannot log-in, please reset your password using our new 6 character format through THIS LINK and click Forgot Password. An email message with a reset link will be sent to your email address.

My new Bay Weld build

Well after many months of diligence, I've decided to have BW build me my dream boat. She will look much like the 27 foot boat they've been showing at the boat show and the past sportsman show, with several changes. Cabin lengthened 6 inches, and deck pushed back 18 inches for a 29 hull length and 33.5 OAL. Same 9.3 beam. I'm adding an outside helm, and the head will open in the cabin. Starboard transom door. Interior will have suspension seats for both helm and passenger. I'm not having a refrigerator, and drawers will go in that spot. Forgoing the cooktop as well as I prefer to cook outside on my Coleman and BBQ. With the additional cabin space, the table will lay down for a 6'4" bunk. Going with a Dometic sink. Cabin height raised to 6'4". Decided on twin 250 Suzuki's and no kicker motor. She will have the Optimus 360 joystick control which will also have their "virtual anchor" system. Fuel capacity of 250 gallons.

Been an extremely fun process to design this boat. Eric has been great, and extremely patient with my barrage of questions. Construction to begin in August and hope to splash her in late January! Going to be a long 9 months waiting for this baby to be born.

Anybody looking for a sweet 24 Seasport, she'll be going on the market this summer

In 1492 Native Americans discovered Columbus lost at sea
_________________________________________________

Congrats Bud. The next 9 months are going to be brutal. But it's so exciting to see the progress and build it the way you want along the way.

You know this well! Still trying to finalize electronics package. I know it will have a 6 speaker sound system incliding 2 subwoofers. I am leaning Furuno TZ2 over the Garmin 7612 package. Every boat I have owned has had a Furuno and they have treated me well.

In 1492 Native Americans discovered Columbus lost at sea
_________________________________________________

You might want to reconsider removing the cook top if you are financing the boat. Interest on a boat loan can be written off as a second mortgage but it must have cooking facilities (as well as sleeping and toilet facilities).

You might want to reconsider removing the cook top if you are financing the boat. Interest on a boat loan can be written off as a second mortgage but it must have cooking facilities (as well as sleeping and toilet facilities).

The regs are not clear on this issue. It certainly says sleeping quarters, head (porti pottie does count) and a "galley". I have yet to see where it says you have to have a fixed stove. I will have a sink and two ways to cook.

In 1492 Native Americans discovered Columbus lost at sea
_________________________________________________

All facilities must be permanent. A stove/grill on the deck isn't a permanent fixture and will not meet IRS requirements for a galley.

"If your boat meets the IRS definition of a second home, you can write off some of the expenses associated with your boat loan. To be considered your second home, your boat must have eating, sleeping and toilet facilities. According to DiscoverBoating.com, boats with a berth, a permanent galley and a head qualify. "

The wording of permanent galley is clearly meant to exclude portable cook tops and grills IMO.

All facilities must be permanent. A stove/grill on the deck isn't a permanent fixture and will not meet IRS requirements for a galley.

"If your boat meets the IRS definition of a second home, you can write off some of the expenses associated with your boat loan. To be considered your second home, your boat must have eating, sleeping and toilet facilities. According to DiscoverBoating.com, boats with a berth, a permanent galley and a head qualify. "

The wording of permanent galley is clearly meant to exclude portable cook tops and grills IMO.

When discoverboating.com audits me, I will bring this up. The IRS regulations are vague. I have dealt with the IRS for nearly 30 years, am more than comfortable with this stance. A portable head but non portable cooking facility?

I don't think a portable toilet qualifies. I remember asking my tax guy several years ago when I had a boat with fold out rear seats that could double as a bed, a cooktop and a portable coleman toilet if I could write it off. He said nope. Head means permanent toilet and he refused to use it as a second mortgage write off.

It is a gray area indeed and the chance of getting audited is slim so you will probably never have an issue. I just can't afford to pay around with the IRS and legal issues from an audit and risk losing my job so I take the cautious route.

I don't think a portable toilet qualifies. I remember asking my tax guy several years ago when I had a boat with fold out rear seats that could double as a bed, a cooktop and a portable coleman toilet if I could write it off. He said nope. Head means permanent toilet and he refused to use it as a second mortgage write off.

It is a gray area indeed and the chance of getting audited is slim so you will probably never have an issue. I just can't afford to pay around with the IRS and legal issues from an audit and risk losing my job so I take the cautious route.

the same website you previously quoted says the opposite on portable toliet